I. Executive Summary/Main Narrative

All people in the AV deserve to live in safety. This includes freedom from police violence, as well as conditions that create well-being and opportunities to thrive. For people of color, especially Black and Latinx youth, safety is often undermined by LA Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and high school district practices that push youth of color out of schools and into the criminal legal system (such as disproportionate suspensions, expulsions, and arrests). More broadly, for Black and Latinx AV residents, a sense safety is undermined by inequities in other sectors, such as housing and economic insecurity.

A. Summary of research findings

Below is a summary of our preliminary research findings. All of the data can be explored more in-depth throughout the page:

Education data shows that students of color are being funneled out of the classroom through expulsions and suspensions. Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD) suspends Black students more than to all other student groups. AVUHSD also suspends students with disabilities (SWDs) at very high rates. Conversely, these student groups also have lower graduation rates compared to White students. These disparities demonstrate the systemic biases that are harming students of color, and the urgent need for more investments in better school supports and counseling.

Preliminary research findings show that police are disproportionately stopping Black and Latinx youth AVUHSD schools. Black students in particular are being disproportionately impacted by police relative to their overall enrollment in AVUHSD.

The majority of people being stopped by police in AVUHSD schools are stopped for reasons related to school fighting or possession of marijuana. Additional stop reasons police cite include non-serious offenses such as jaywalking or violating education codes.

The results of people being stopped in AVUHSD schools further corroborates that police activity is not being used to prevent serious crime. Most stops in AVUHSD schools result in an in field cite and release, or some form of referral to a parent, guardian or school administrator.

The racial disparities in police stops extend beyond AVUHSD schools to the greater Antelope Valley (AV) region. Police disproportionately stop people they perceive as Black relative to the general Black population in the Antelope Valley. People perceived as Latinx by police make up nearly half of all the stops police make in the Antelope Valley.

II. Background / Context of AV

A. Describe how the AV is a diverse place.

We define the Antelope Valley (AV) geographic region as SPA 1. The AV has a large youth population overall, at 27.5% of the total population. By comparison, 20.9% of LA county’s population is age 0-17. The AV is also racially diverse, with Latinx people making up more than half of the total population.

Antelope Valley Age Demographics

Age

Total

Count

Rate

17 and under

408,374

112,293

27.5

18-24

408,374

37,453

9.2

25-34

408,374

55,825

13.7

35-44

408,374

53,665

13.1

45-54

408,374

48,584

11.9

55-64

408,374

50,358

12.3

65 and older

408,374

50,196

12.3

Our education analysis for the AV focuses on the Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD). All education data for AVUHSD is for the 2024-2025 academic year. In AVUHSD there are more Black and Latinx students enrolled than White students. Students with disabilities have a 17.8% enrollment rate in AVUHSD.

LA county student enrollment also has a high proportion of Latinx students at 65.2% compared to 67.2% in AVUHSD. However, the Black student enrollment rate for LA county is only 6.7%, compared to 16.6% in AVUHSD. Additionally, students with disabilities make up 14.8% of total student enrollment in LA county.

IV. In addition, safety for Black and Latinx AV residents is undermined by inequities in other sectors, such as economic and housing insecurity, and environment.

A. [PLACEHOLDER]: Short Story / Anecdote from community – can incorporate the framing of what “real safety” means to Antelope Valley community members

B. Redlining and other racist policies made by white supremacist institutions result in poorer health outcomes for BIPOC people in the AV

C. The above inequities stem from both historical and present-day government decision-making . . .

V. Waste of public dollars on policing and school pushout versus smart investments that create true safety and wellbeing for all AV community members

A. School funds are limited, and District leadership must prioritize what type of staff to hire

B. Outside of school, in the wider community, the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale make similar decisions and prioritize even more funding towards law enforcement at the expense of true safety.

VI. Policy solutions / recommendations:

Conclusion

A. Brief recap of main arguments

B. Vision for AV’s future